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Tag Archives: Childhood

March 24th 2018, Ben and myself went to visit the V&A to view the Winne The Pooh Exhibition.

It was a charming and wonderful exhibit, with original illustrations by Earnest Shepherd and the collaboration he had with A.A Milne in creating the loveable bear we know today.

Seeing all the illustrations and learning how E.S, drew from life and brought the characters of Whinnie the Pooh into being. His process was to sketch and sketch and sketch, to create movement on the page, even at times going over some of the original line work to keep adapting it.

This process reminded me of some of the things I do, to make sure that my work is perfected in some way shape or form.

I think the most impressive part of the exhibition was the set up itself, it had a slide, a dark room with kinetic typography on the ceiling and a voice reading from an extract of one of the stories while it animated; there were all manner of sizes of display typography and illustrations to guide you through the exhibit.

Tiny Bees with the word ‘Buzz’ near them was so simple yet I spotted everyone of them on the walls. I enjoyed the small things such as a big O with the centre hollowed out so that a small child could fit inside, there was a bed to represent story time for Christopher Robin, and even though it was fairly annoying, there was a bell hanging on a small door that opened out and closed.

There was so much interaction, which reflected how the stories are written and composed by A.A Milne’s typesetting – some of the paragraphs were formed in the shape of a tree trunk, others followed the movement of the characters, such as Kanga hoping with Piglet in her pouch. E. Shepherd’s illustrations sometimes featured over one single page, such as when Pooh got stuck in Rabbit’s hole.

It was surprising that so many cultures and other countries around the globe also enjoyed Winnie the Pooh and to learn of the different variations was quite interesting.

I am very much glad I went to this exhibition, not only to feel a connection back to my childhood, but to be inspired by such a humorous writer and an incredible illustrator who’s work had so much movement as if ready to animate itself.

Before New Designers started, I took the tube to go and visit an exhibition of two of my heroes, in Graphic Design. MinaLima.

Deep in the heart of Greek Street I ventured to find a vibrant shop front, with many prints and goodies to purchase, from the exhibition. Climbing the vibrant purple stairs, taking note of the way–finding systems and attempting to hide my excitement.

The first floor was incredible, many hundreds of prints lining the walls. Their project of collective nouns showed their mastery in the craft. Each print, were different however collectively they fit as a family. They transformed something knowledgeable into visual forms, to which only the eye can behold. Each print had the subject and their collective noun. Since my Major Project, I had become interested in our language somewhat, mostly of the hidden meanings behind phrases we say. This was somewhat different yet I felt motivated to do something, I am unsure what… perhaps turn my personal project that I seemed to have abandoned about the Magpie Rhyme into a visual print or piece of information design. At this point I do not know.

Moving on to the second and third floors, I was blown away by the extent of the vibrancy of Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes, The Quibbler and the most amazing typography displayed on large copies of the Daily Prophet and the largest Marauders Map, decorated on the floor. It was beautiful. Edwardo Lima and Miraphora Mina I realised, have been the most visual stimulus through their work in the Harry Potter Franchise, as a child growing up. I feel without them, I probably wouldn’t be this passionate about Graphic Design. They are my biggest inspiration.

The third floor too, was incredible with all their book covers for the films, that the students of Hogwarts used on a daily basis. Everything was so incredible I wanted to buy as many prints as possible. However, I would have bought the whole shop if it weren’t for the fact I now need to be precious about money. SO, I settled for their two books: A Zeal of Zebras, and A Compendium of Collective Nouns, to settle my twitching fingers. I am yet to read through them and appreciate their talents on each page.

I would like to visit them again, perhaps before they close in February 2017. I really recommend going it is the most exciting adventure and to admire everything Ed and Mira have done, for all the Harry Potter Fanbase to bring the films to life.